Home Water Compass Start My Water Check
Private well problem solver

Identify the likely cause before treating your well water.

Odor, iron stains, black marks, cloudiness — each has several possible causes. A few questions organize the clues and point to a responsible next step.

Start the problem solver

About 2 minutes, symptom questions first — never a sales pitch

1

Describe the symptom

Hot-only or whole-home? Powdery or slimy? These details change the likely path.

2

Get an honest read

Sometimes it's the water heater, not the well. Sometimes it needs a bacteria test, not an iron filter.

3

Test, fix or call a specialist

We route you to testing, guidance or one named well professional — whichever the evidence supports.

What you should know first

A symptom is a clue, not a test

Color and smell suggest possibilities. Only a qualifying laboratory test confirms what's in well water.

Hot-only odor often starts at the heater

A rotten-egg smell in hot water only frequently involves the anode rod — a service question, not a treatment purchase.

Wells change over time

Geology, weather and equipment shift well water. Annual testing is the baseline even when nothing seems wrong.

Start with the symptom, not the catalog

Start the problem solver
Home Water Compass is an independent matching service paid by participating providers for qualified requests. Your request goes to one named company only, shown to you before any contact details are collected. Compensation does not change whether a professional route fits your situation.